Fabricated terminal board



Dec. 23; 1952 l. R. LATTA 2,623,087

` FABRICATED TERMINAL BOARD Filed Dec. 9, 1949 .57 4f 43 Inven tor:

Isaac F?. Latte,

AMV

His At torrweg.

Patented Dec. 23, 1952 FABRICATED TERMINAL BOARD IsaacR. Latta, Drexel Hill, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application December 9, 1949, Serial No. 132,118

.Theinvention relates to terminal boards, particularly terminal'boards that can be built up or fabricated of duplicate standard parts formed to 4`axially interlock and encompass a selected number of duplicate terminal connectors when the separate parts are rotatably mounted on an axial tie rod and non-rotatably clamped together by axial clamping means at the ends of the rod.

Theprincipal object is to provide an improved fabricated cellular terminal board construction whereby a selected number of duplicate terminal connector bars carrying terminal binding screws can be mounted in spaced-apartl alignment by means of a plurality of duplicate intermediate spacer yokes and barriers and end mounting blocks each molded of insulating material in a special form to be laterally interlocked together into a rigid cellular unit with each terminal connector bar locked in place in a separate insulated cell by means of an axial tie rod that passes through only the end blocks and rotatably mounts the intermediate barriers with the spacer yokes rotatably straddling the rod for radial removal therefrom.

Another object is to construct all the duplicate spacer yokes of triple reverse formv so that vthe middle yoke will straddle the tie rod for radial removal therefrom and seat for the terminal connector bar across .the reverse end yokes and the latter will pro-vide spaced apart insulating pockets for the terminal screws on opposite sides of the rod.

f Another object is to provide each endmounting block of the `fabricated cellular lterminal board with an integral molded triple reverse spacer yoke both for reeniorcing the block and for interlocking with an adjacent barrier to form a terminal connector bar mounting cell with spaced insulating pockets for the terminal binding screws.

Anotherobject is t provide each end mounting block with intersecting recesses in the outer face thereof for nesting a metal mounting bracket within the edgewise perimeter ofthe block as well as the holding screw that anchors theA mounting bracket to the tie rod so as to not only eliminate` all mounting projections at the ends of the terminal board unit, but also effectively isolate the metal mounting bracket and tie vrod parts from Vthe terminal connector mounting cells as well as relieve the end blocks ofdrect mounting strains.

Further objects and advantages will appearin the following description. of the accompanying drawing inwhich Fig. 1 is a side view of a fabricated cellular terminal board. :embodying the 5C1ams. (Cl. 173-324) axial tie rod mounting improvements of the present invention with some of the parts broken away in order more clearly to show the detailed structure thereof; Fig. 2 is a top view of the terminal board shown in Fig. 1 with one of the end mounting blocks and one of the intermediate barriers in section to show the details of construction thereof; Fig. 3 is an end View of the terminal board shown in Fig. l showing further details of construction of the molded end mounting block and the metal mounting bracket recessed therein; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the terminal board shown in Fig. 1 on the line 4--4 showing the details of construction of one of the radially removable triple reverse yoke spacer elements as well as the details of the terminal connectorbar seated on the spacer in a cell and provided with a pair of terminal binding screws; Fig. 5 is an inside view of one of the end terminal mounting blocks showing the triple reverse yoke spacer projections that are formed integral therewith; Fig. 6 is a iront View of one of the barriers showing the lateral projections with which both sides oi the barrier are provided for interlocking engagement with the adjacent spacers; and Fig. '7 is a front View of. one oi the triple reverse yoke spacers that is adapted for interlocking engagement with the lateral projections on each sideof the barriers and leaving the middle yoke formed for straddling the tie rod as indicated in Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. 1, a selected four terminal form of the improved cellular terminal board unit indicated generally by the reference character l may be built up or fabricated of two duplicate end mounting blocks il, three duplicate intermediate barriers !2 and two intermediate duplicate triple reverse sinuous spacer yokes I3 that are rotatably mounted for radial removal vfrom tie rod I4 in alternate alignment between the end mountingblocks Il. As described more'in detail hereinafter these parts all are provided with lateral projections specially formed to laterally interlock together in the rigid cellular unit iii with the separate terminalconnector mounting cells i8 formed therein and are clamped together by means of the axial tie rod le that is provided with an insulating covering i5 and extends through each of the intermediate barriers I2 to interconnect the end blocks H with the radially removable spacer yokes I 3 rotatably straddling the tie rod as indicated in Fig. 4. In this way all the intermediate barriers H- anrdspacer yokes i3 are interlocked together and clamped between the end mounting blocks in non-rotatable suspension on the tie rod I4. A terminal connector bar I1 is seated on the corresponding spacer yoke I3 in each of the cells I8 formed by the spacer yoke I3 interlocking laterally between the adjacent barriers I2. As shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 4, `each connector bar I1 is provided with a pair of terminal binding screws I9 having a wiring clip and a securing washer 2| carried by each screw.

Each end block I I, as shown in Fig. 3, is molded of insulating material to provide a narrowed face 23 for mounting the terminal board unit I0 on a flat surface and is provided with a central deep recess 24 in its outer face for receiving the right angled metal mounting bracket 25 therein so that one leg of the bracket can be secured to the tie rod I4 by means of the axial clamping screw 25 with the other leg of the mounting bracket 25 entirely within the edgewise perimeter of the end mounting block I I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The end block I I also is provided with an intersecting recess 21 of semicylindrical shape for providing easy access with a screwdriver to the mounting screw passing through the opening 28 in the other leg of the mounting bracket 25 that is substantially aligned with the mounting face 23 of the end block. Other suitably formed recesses 3U may be provided in each of the end blocks II in order to reduce the amount of molded material required.

As shown in Fig. 5, the inner face of each end block II is provided with a reinforcing tran..- verse rib 3I spanning the intersecting recesses 24 and 21 So as to rigidly interconnect the cpposite end portions of the block I I. This transverse rib 3I is integral with the triple reverse spacer yoke projection 32 that is adapted for lateral interlocking engagement with the com'- plementary projections on either side of the barrier I2 to form a terminal connector bar mounting cell I8 in the same way as each spacer I3. Each end block I I also is provided with a central interlocking projection 33 of semicylindrical form for overhanging interlocking engagement with the terminal connector bar I1 that is seated on the integral spacer yoke 32 in the cell I3 to lock the connector bar against radial movement from its seat. The opposite shoulders 34 and 35 projecting from the inner surface of each end block II serve to engage with the corners of the connector bar I1 and thereby prevent lateral displacement of the bar I1 from its seat in the cell I8 formed between the end plate II and the adjacent interlocking barrier I 2 as shown in section in Fig. 1.

Each of the duplicate intermediate barriers I2 (as shown in Fig. 6) is molded of suitable insulating material into substantially flat plate form adapted to register generally within the iiatwise perimeter of the end block I I as shown in Fig. 4, and is provided with lateral complementary projections on each side thereof for interlocking engagement with either one of the triple reverse yoke spacers I3 or with the integral triple reverse yoke spacer projection 32 of either end block II to prevent relative rotary movement therebetween. Thus, the opposite shoulders or projections 40 and 4I are complementary in shape with the end loops 42 and 43 of the triple reverse yoke spacer I3 so as to effect lateral interlocking of these parts together to form a terminal connector bar mounting cell with the spacer I3 interposed between two of the barriers I2. Also each side of the barrier I2 is provided with a central projection 44 of a semicylindrical shape similar to the projection 33 on the end mount- '4 ing block II for interlocking engagement with. the upper face of the terminal connector bar I1 to prevent upward movement of the bar from its seat when it is seated in cell I3 on a spacer I3. The opposite shoulders 45 and 46 likewise are provided on each side of the barrier I2 to prevent lateral movement of the bar I1 from its seat -in the same way as the shoulders 34 and 35 formed on the end block I I. Each barrier I2 also is provided With an annular boss 41 on each side thereof for rotatably mounting the lbarrier I2 on the tie rod I4 that extends through the barrier.

Each of the intermediate spacers I3 is molded with a middle yoke 50 interconnecting two reverse end yokes 42 and 43 with the middle yoke adapted to rotatably straddle the axial tie rod I4 for radial removal therefrom as shown in Fig. 4. Recess 5I is formed on each side ofthe middle yoke 5@ for receiving the annular boss 41 of a barrier I2 therein when the spacer I3 is nested in interlocking engagement between two barriers I2 to prevent relative rotary movement therebetween and form a cell I8 as shown in Fig. 1. A similar recess 52 is provided on each of the end blocks II for receiving the annular boss 41 of the barrier I2 in interlocking engagement therein as shown in Fig. 1.

Each triplereverse yoke spacer I3 is provided. with a rounded knob 54 on the middle yoke 524 for registering with the central aperture 55 in the terminal connector bar I1 when the bar is seated on the yoke as shown in Fig. 4 with the ends of the bar extending across the end reverse yokes 42 and 43 so that each of the screws I9 can be extended into the insulating pockets 53 and 51. In this way the terminal connector bar I1 is held seated in its central position on the yoke I3 by the rounded knob 54 during the assembly of the parts into the rigid cellular unit Ill.

For this purpose the barriers I2 and the spacers I3 are rotatably mounted in alternate alignment or juxtaposition on the tie rod I 4 with a terminal connector bar I1 seated on each spacer I 3 in the cell I8 formed between the adjacent barriers I2 and with the middle yoke of the spacer I3 rotatably straddling the tie rod I4 as shown in Fig. 4. Each end block II is then provided with a terminal connector bar I1 seated on the integral triple yoke spacer projection 32 thereof in interlocking engagement with the projections 33, 34, and 35 and the end mounting block II slid into nested interlocking relation with the outer barriers I2 to form the selected four terminal bar assembled unit as shown in Fig. 1. The mounting brackets 25 are then inserted into the recesses 24 and clamped in position by tightening the holding screws 26 to axially clamp all of the parts together and prevent relative rotary movement therebetween and thereby form a rigid cellular unit wherein each terminal connectorbar I1 is securely locked in a corresponding cell I8. If desired, a terminal identifying marker plate S0 may be seated in the channel grooves 6I formed in the upper edge of each of the intermediate barrier plates I2 and the end blocks II and held in place by a drive screw 62 to complete the unit. When the axial clamping screw 26 at either end of the axial tie rod I4 is loosened, the intermediate barriers I2 adjacent any spacer I3 can be slid apart suiciently to disengagc the spacer from the lateral projections 4I] and 4I formed on the opposite sides of the adjacent barriers and thereby enable the spacer yoke I3 and the terminal connectors I1 radially removably seated thereon A terminal board mounting any desired number of terminal connectorsmay be'provided vfrom a stock of standard parts -by merely assembling more barriers l2 and spacers I3 between the end mounting blocks i I and correspondingly increas ing the length of the tie rod I4. In case a minimum of only two terminal connectors are required, then only a single barrier l2 need be assembled in interlocking relation between the triple yoke projections 32 of each end block H. In any case as indicated in Figs. l and 2, the terminal binding screws I9 are readily accessible for interconnection of two or more Wires to each terminal connector bar I' and the seating of each bar l1 within an insulating cell I8 eiiectively reduces the chance of accidental contact with the live terminal parts. Furthermore, any desired number of terminal yboard units can be mounted in abutting endwise alignment due to the fact that the mounting brackets of each unit are located entirely Within the edgewise perimeter of bination an axial tie rod, a 'plurality of spacer yokes rotatably straddling the tie rod and each having a radially projecting knob and a perfcrate terminal connector removably seated thereon, a plurality of barriers rotatably mounted on the tie rod in alternate juxtaposition with the spacer yokes and each barrier having complementary lateral projections on opposite sides thereof for overlapping engagement with the adjacent edges of the spacer yoke and the terminal connector seated thereon for laterally locking each yoke in alignment with each adjacent barrier Ito prevent relative rotary movement thereof and radially locking the terminal connector on the knob of the yoke, and axial clamping means at each end of the tie rod for clamping the barriers and spacer yokes together with each spacer yoke rotatably straddling the rod for radial removal therefrom when the clamping means is loosened sufficiently to axially disengage the complementary locking projections of the adjacent barriers from the yoke and terminal connector.

2. A fabricated terminal board having in combination an axial tie rod, a plurality of triple reverse yoke spacers each having the central yoke thereof rotatably straddling the tie rod for radial removal therefrom and provided with a radially projecting knob, a plurality of terminal connectors, each having a perforation Jfor removably seating the connector on the knob of a corresponding yoke spacer and provided with binding screws extending into the pockets formed within the reverse end yokes thereof, a plurality of barrier plates rotatably mounted on the tie rod in alternate juxtaposition with the yoke spacers and each provided with complementary lateral projecn tions on opposite sides thereof for overlapping engagement with the adjacent edges of a spacer and the terminal connector seated thereon for,

axially interlocking each yoke in alignment 'between the adjacent barriers to prevent relative ratary movement therebetween andradially 10ering .the terminal; connector on the radially projeci'lin kIQb vofthe yoke, and axial clamping means at each endV of the tie rod for clamping the j uxtaposed'barriers and spacer yokes in interlocking relation.

3. A fabricated terminal board having in combination a pair 0f spaced apart end blocks of molded insulating material each provided with an integral spacer yoke projecting from the inner face thereof', an axial tie rod extending through the integral spacer yokes, a plurality of separate barrier plates and intermediate spacer yokes of molded insulating material rotatably mounted on the axial tie rod in alternate juxtaposition between the integral spacer yokes and each barrier plate provided with opposite lateral projections for overlapping engagement with each adjacent integral and intermediate spacer yoke to prevent relative rotary movement thereof on the axial rod, a plurality of conducting terminal connectors each radially removably seated on a corresponding integral and intermediate spacer yoke for engaging a lateral projection on each adjacent barrier plate for locking the connector in position and a pair of mounting brackets having screw means at the ends of the axial tie rod for clamping the integral spacer yokes, the barrier plates and the intermediate spacer yokes in non-rotatable juxtaposition on the tie rod and locking each terminal connector against radial removal.

4. A fabricated terminal board having in combination a pair of spaced apart end blocks formed of insulating material and each provided with a recess in the outer face thereof and an integral spacer yoke projecting from the inner face thereof, a tie rod extending through the integral spacer yokes with the ends of the rod adjacent the recesses in the outer faces of the end blocks, a plurality of insulating barrier plates and intermediate spacer yokes rotatably mounted on the rod in alternate juxtaposition between the inner yokes of the end blocks and each plate provided With opposite lateral projections for overlapping interlocking engagement with each adjacent integral and intermediate yoke to prevent relative rotary movement thereof, a plurality of terminal connectors, each radially removably seated on a spacer yoke, a pair of mounting brackets each nested in the recess in a corresponding end block and having a mounting screw removably secured to the corresponding end of the axial tie rod for clamping the integral yokes, the barrier plates and intermediate spacer yokes in non-rotatable juxtaposition on the rod and locking each terminal connector against radial removal.

5. A fabricated terminal board having in comn bination a single axial tie rod having axial clamping means at each end thereof, a plurality of barrier plates rotatably mounted in spaced apart relation on the rod and each provided with lateral projections on the opposite sides thereof, a plurality of spacer yokes rotatably straddling the rod in alternate juxtaposition with the barriers for separate radial removal from the rod when the clamping means is loosened and for clamping into locking engagement with one poru tion of the lateral projections to align adjacent barriers and yokes and prevent relative rotary movement therebetween when the clamping means is tightened, and a plurality of terminal connectors each having means for radially re- 7 8 movable seating on a corresponding yoke when UNITED STATES PATENTS the clamping means is loosened and for locking engagement with another portion of the lateral Nlugge Rovme Febjelgz projections on each adjacent barrier to prevent 1693303 Mackmggs'l; "Nov 27 1928 radial removal thereof when the clamping means 5 2397102 Graham Mar 26 1946 is tightened.

ISAAC R LATTA FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country ADate REFERENCES CITED 187,516 switzerland Nov. 15, 1936 The following references are of record in the 10 572,732 Germany Mar. 22, 1933 le of this patent: 670,944 France Dec. 6, 1929 

